The Fertilizer used in the Mittleider Method | Episode 6

[@stevem7736]

Excellent videos, I have been a Mittleider gardener for over 20 years.

[@charlescoker7752]

I tried the Perlite. Did not keep the moisture out. I believe it is the magnesium in the Epsom Salt, that attracts the moisture. So mixing in the Epsom Salt in the already ready fertilizer mix, when you get read to apply is the way to go in humid climates.

[@teresahoople4448]

Great job for your first year. When I moved to Kentucky and started my garden in raised beds because the soil is clay. I also used the Mittleider method. I also grew in the sawdust and sand, 12 years later and still using this method. People can't believe how productive my garden is. I have a 10 year supply back up of ingredients in my basement, I did not have to worry about the fertilizer shortage.

[@FourDRanch]

That is awesome! Thanks for posting!!

[@davidhudson3567]

I live in south Louisiana and I messed up mixing mine in advance... in no time my fertilizer was soupy...

[@FourDRanch]

Mine takes a month or more to get soupy, now I mix just enough to last a few weeks at a time.

[@frugalprepper]

@@FourDRanch I just use a couple cups of powder dolimite in mine and keep it sealed and it stay dry. I just did a video where I made some more and add in what I had left (going on 3 years), and no moisture in the bucket.

[@frugalprepper]

Nice. I have never done the Micros myself. I always have bought the packs! I used Calcium Nitrate for my fast acting calcium. I have tried calcium chloride, but it get warm when you water it in and I have problems with it getting hard. I still use Lime in my preplant and put a little in my weekly feed as well, but it is very slow acting and takes a while to become bio-available to the plant. Jacob Mittleider used calcium nitrate in his original books as well as a supplement for treating deficiencies, just do try to tell Jim Kennard that or you will be banned.

[@plantbasedprepper]

I stopped mixing the epson salt in with the weekly feed because it was getting too soggy. I did some math and figured out all you have to do is put 16% of the epson salt to however many ounces you are making of weekly feed. For example, if your grow bed is 30 ft long, you need 15oz of weekly feed so 15oz * 16% = 2.4oz epson salt. I just round and mix 2.5oz epson salt and 12.5oz of weekly feed and that is the 15oz combined I use. For the calcium deficiency, I realized the pre-plant fertilizer supplied the calcium but was getting leeched out fast using sand and sawdust so I just add the pre-plant (1oz per ft) once a month and that took care of that problem. I also bought all those micro nutrients from the other FB group recommendations because I was planning on dissolving everything in a 55 gallon drum and automating the weekly feed but just never got around to it yet. It's still on my to do list but now I see the original group experimenting with that using nano technology. I'm going to try that too but I did resolve my calcium deficiency by just adding the pre-plant once a month and making sure my PH level was between 6-7.0.

[@FourDRanch]

Great ideas, thanks for sharing!! 😎

[@freewaybaby]

What do you use to adjust pH, since the plants are already getting fertilizer? Thanks!

[@centraltexashomestead-mike4956]

Your 100% on track and your doing an amazing job. If this is the first time to garden I can't wait to see the fall garden. 30 + years gardening in central Texas and we use the following. Bone meal (Phosphorus promotes root growth) Blood meal (Nitrogen) Home made compost, Black cow manure, Medina Horticultural Molasses (Feeds the microbes in the soil) For foliar feeding we use. Seaweed (strengthens the plants and has lot's of benefits) Liquid fish (Nitrogen) I do use calcium chloride and mix into the soil the beginning of the season when planting. If your happy about the way you feed then go for it. We try not to use and commercial fertilizer as much, however we do use a little once and awhile. Great video! God Bless yawl, Mike & Rochelle

[@FourDRanch]

I am happy with my results, but have a lot to learn and am open to more sustainable methods. I like how you garden and appreciate your tips. I also like how you know how to use the herbs you grow in the kitchen, I want to grow some herbs, but mainly just use salt and pepper here ☹ We are not very good cooks, so always learning on that front as well!

[@centraltexashomestead-mike4956]

@@FourDRanch That would be a good idea for a video. I'll work on an herb garden video and incorporate a few ways to use the herbs in the kitchen. We finally got a good amount of rain. Amen! Mike

[@traviss589]

I waited three weeks to receive my fertilizer from three different suppliers.

[@crystalof7]

You can not tell you are a beginner!!

[@FourDRanch]

Thank you and thanks for watching!